Section 3 Aerodrome Services - CAA

1 Section 3 Aerodrome Services Chapter 1 Aerodrome Control Note: This chapter should be read in conjunction with Separation Methods and Minima ( Section 6, Chapter 5). 1 Provision of Services An Aerodrome control unit shall provide: a) Aerodrome control service;. b) Flight Information service;. c) Alerting service; and d) Special Events service. An Aerodrome control unit provides Services principally to aircraft flying with visual reference to the surface in an Aerodrome traffic zone where one is established, or, in the Aerodrome traffic circuit when the Aerodrome is situated within a CTR. An Aerodrome control unit is normally a separate unit but may be combined, either permanently or temporarily, with an approach control unit. 2 Responsibilities Aerodrome control shall be responsible for issuing information and instructions to aircraft under its control to achieve a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic on and in the vicinity of an Aerodrome and to assist pilots in preventing collisions between: a) Aircraft flying in, and in the vicinity of, the Aerodrome traffic zone.

2 B) Aircraft taking off and landing;. c) Aircraft and vehicles, obstructions and other aircraft on the manoeuvring area. In order to execute his duties, an Aerodrome controller has authority over aircraft, vehicles and personnel on the manoeuvring area. The functions of an Aerodrome control tower may be performed by different control or working positions, such as: a) Aerodrome controller, normally responsible for operations on the runway and aircraft flying within the area of responsibility of the Aerodrome control tower;. b) Ground controller, normally responsible for traffic on the manoeuvring area with the exception of runways; and CAA Standards & Procedures (ATCIs) Manual - Section 3 Page 1 of 42 8 February 2013. c) Clearance delivery position, normally responsible for delivery of start-up and ATC. clearances to departing IFR flights. Where parallel or near-parallel runways are used for simultaneous operations, individual Aerodrome controllers should be responsible for operations on each of the runways.

3 As far as visibility permits, Aerodrome Controllers are required to keep a constant visual watch over the manoeuvring area and the Aerodrome circuit, irrespective of whether or not IMC prevails at an Aerodrome situated within a CTR, in order to: a) Ensure that the runway-in-use and its associated taxiways and flight strips are free of obstructions, vehicles, persons and animals when required for aircraft movements;. b) Ensure that, where birds or animals are observed on or near runways, the appropriate airport authorities are informed to remove them and pilots warned of their presence;. c) Ensure that all obstructions or unserviceable areas are properly marked and pilots warned when necessary;. d) Be constantly aware of the positions of aircraft on the manoeuvring area and in the Aerodrome traffic circuit so as to enable him to issue essential Aerodrome traffic information;. Note: When Approach Control is responsible for the runway-in-use, Aerodrome controllers shall maintain strict liaison with this unit in regard to the above.

4 E) Alert the Aerodrome safety Services without delay in the event of an accident, aborted take- off or potential accident on the manoeuvring area or its environs. Aerodromes Situated Within a CTR. During VMC conditions, Aerodrome control will be responsible for the provision of Aerodrome control Services to aircraft on the manoeuvring area including the runway-in-use, excluding the apron, and for aircraft flying within the Aerodrome circuit; and During IMC conditions, Aerodrome control will be responsible for aircraft on the manoeuvring area, excluding the aprons and runway-in-use, except when such responsibility has been delegated by approach control or as laid down in the ATSU SSI Manual. When IMC prevails at an Aerodrome situated within a control zone, the Aerodrome control unit will be responsible only for items contained in paragraph (b), (d) and (e) above, except that such responsibility does not include the runway-in-use unless such responsibility has been delegated by approach control or as stated in the ATSU SSI Manual.

5 Selection of Runway-in-use The term 'runway-in-use' is used to indicate the particular runway or landing direction selected by Aerodrome control as the most suitable at any particular time. Normally, the runway-in-use selected should be that most closely aligned to the surface wind direction. Where the surface wind conditions are light and variable the 2000 feet wind should be taken into account before selecting the runway-in-use. CAA Standards & Procedures (ATCIs) Manual - Section 3 Page 2 of 42 8 February 2013. When selecting the runway-in-use, Aerodrome control shall take into consideration other factors such as: a) Type of aircraft which will be using the Aerodrome ;. b) Length of runway;. c) Traffic patterns, especially where these will conflict with other aerodromes;. d) Pilot's visibility as affected by the rays of the sun or weather;. e) Prevailing weather;. f) Approach and landing aids available;. g) Noise-abatement procedures where these have been prescribed.

6 H) Serviceability of taxiways serving the runway-in-use;. i) Crosswind component. Note: At certain aerodromes more than one runway may be in use at any one time. Note: Refer to Section 1 Chapter 4 for crosswind component table If the runway-in-use is not considered suitable for a particular operation the pilot may request permission to use another. Permission may be deferred until the traffic situation permits the use of another runway and the expected delay shall be passed to the pilot. Alerting Service Provided by Aerodrome Control Towers Aerodrome control towers are responsible for alerting the rescue and fire fighting Services whenever: a) An aircraft accident has occurred on or in the vicinity of the Aerodrome ; or b) Information is received that the safety of an aircraft which is or will come under the jurisdiction of the Aerodrome control tower may have or has been impaired; or c) Requested by the flight crew; or d) When otherwise deemed necessary or desirable.

7 Procedures concerning the alerting of the rescue and fire fighting Services shall be contained in the Station Standing Instruction Manual. Such instructions shall specify the type of information to be provided to the rescue and fire fighting Services , including type of aircraft and type of emergency and, when available, number of persons on board, and any dangerous goods carried on the aircraft. CAA Standards & Procedures (ATCIs) Manual - Section 3 Page 3 of 42 8 February 2013. Aircraft which fail to report after having been transferred to an Aerodrome control tower, or, having once reported, cease radio contact and in either case fail to land five minutes after the expected landing time, shall be reported to the approach control unit, ACC or flight information centre, or to the rescue coordination centre in accordance with Station Standing Instructions. Failure or irregularity of aids and equipment Aerodrome control towers shall immediately report in accordance with Station Standing Instructions any failure or irregularity of operation in any equipment, light or other device established at an Aerodrome for the guidance of Aerodrome traffic and flight crews or required for the provision of air traffic control service.

8 Co-ordination Aerodrome control shall co-ordinate with approach control: a) Departing IFR flights;. b) Arriving aircraft which make their first call on the tower frequency (unless they are transferred to approach control). Approach control will co-ordinate with Aerodrome control: a) Aircraft approaching to land; if necessary requesting landing clearance;. b) Arriving aircraft which are to be cleared to visual holding points;. c) Aircraft routing through the traffic circuit. Aerodrome control shall co-ordinate with adjacent aerodromes to ensure that the traffic circuits do not conflict. 3 Effect of Weather on Operations Suspension of visual flight rule operations In deciding whether compliance with IFR is required, Aerodrome Control shall take into account the official weather observations. An ATZ or CTR will be declared IMC when the ceiling drops below 1,500 feet and / or the visibility reduces below 5 km. Approach Control shall declare a CTR IMC when any portion of the zone is IMC even though VMC.

9 May prevail at one or more of the aerodromes within the zone. Approach Control shall be responsible for informing the aerodromes within the CTR and arranging liaison with them. This task may be delegated to the Aerodrome controller and specified in the ATSU. SSI Manual. CAA Standards & Procedures (ATCIs) Manual - Section 3 Page 4 of 42 8 February 2013. The following procedures shall be observed by the Aerodrome control tower whenever VFR. operations are suspended: a) Hold all VFR departures;. b) Recall all local flights operating under VFR or obtain approval for special VFR operations;. c) Notify the approach control unit or ACC as appropriate of the action taken;. d) Notify all operators, or their designated representatives, of the reason for taking such action, if necessary or requested. All aircraft not being able to comply with IFR are to be informed that IFR is in force at their destination Aerodrome . Pilots should be discouraged from undertaking flights to aerodromes which are IMC unless a suitable alternate is available which will enable the flight to be completed in VMC.

10 Aerodrome control shall inform approach control promptly if IMC prevails at the Aerodrome at the time of opening for the day, irrespective of whether IMC or VMC prevailed at the time of closing the previous day. Should an Aerodrome be IMC at the time of closing for the day, a new message, either IMC or VMC, must be sent as soon as possible after opening the following day. Resumption of Visual Flight Rule Operations When the weather conditions have improved to the stage that compliance with IFR is no longer a requirement, Aerodrome control shall inform Approach Control or the ACC. The fitness state at an Aerodrome should not be upgraded from IMC to VMC unless there is likely to be a lasting improvement in the weather conditions. Essential Information on Aerodrome Conditions Essential Aerodrome information is that concerning the state of the manoeuvring area and its associated facilities which may constitute a hazard to a particular aircraft.